Oil spills often result in both immediate and long-term environmental damage. Some of the environmental damage caused by an oil spill can last for decades after the spill occurs. The Arabian Gulf oil spill is also known as the Gulf war oil spill. This spill was one of the most impacting oil spills known to date. The Gulf war oil spill resulted from the Gulf war in 1991.
“The 1991 Gulf War led to the largest oil spill in human history. Over 770 km of coastline from southern Kuwait to Abu Ali Island (Saudi Arabia) were smothered with oil and tar, erasing most of the local plant and animal communities. Salt marshes were most severely hit of the different coastal ecosystem types along the Saudi Arabian coast and are far from being completely restored several years later.” (Barth) "The U.S accused the Iraqis of committing “environmental terrorism” by intentionally spilling several million barrels of oil. Administration sources also commented that an incendiary strike could be carried out against the spill, in an effort to burn oil before it reached key industrial facilities, including water purification plants, in the area. Iraqi officials blamed the U.S. for starting the spill via a recent bombing, however American officials denied the claim, as spilling oil didn't “do anything militarily.” Paul Horsman, a Greenpeace activist, surveyed 240 miles of Persian Gulf shoreline before telling the Chicago Sun-Times that some parts were “beyond repair.” “Over 200 lakes of oil formed throughout the desert due to the massive amounts of spillage, some more than 6 feet deep. By the end of 1991, the massive cloud of smoke that had formed during the fires was starting to dissipate, but many in the local population continued to complain of respiratory problems. As of March 2011, cleanup is far form over. According to Arab news, the Saudi government set contracts worth 700 million Saudi Riyal (over $180 million) to rehabilitate the environments decimated by the Gulf War. The UN contributed $45 million.
"The marine ecosystem of the gulf is always at risk due to accidental and operational oil spills." (Kankara) Oil spills have very negative and devastating affects on the environment, birds, marine mammals and fish. The oil sometimes clogs the blowholes of whales and dolphins, making it impossible for the animals to breathe properly and affecting their ability to communicate and also coats the fur of otters and seals. Even when marine mammals escape the immediate effects, an oil spill can cause damage by contaminating their food supply; Marine mammals that eat fish or other food that has been exposed to an oil spill may be poisoned by the oil and die or can experience other problems. The severity of environmental damages caused by a particular oil spill depends on many factors, including the amount of the oil spilled, the type and weight of the oil, the location of the spill, the species of wildlife in the area, the timing or breeding cycles and seasonal migrations, and even the weather at sea during and immediately after the oil spill.
Barth, H. (2007). Crab induced salt marsh regeneration after the 1991 Gulf War oil spill. Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management, 10(3), 327-334. doi:10.1080/14634980701512624
Kankara, R. S., & Subramanian, B. R. (2007). Oil Spill Sensitivity Analysis and Risk Assessment for Gulf of Kachchh, India, using Integrated Modeling. Journal Of Coastal Research, 23(5), 1251-1258.
Oil spills often result in both immediate and long-term environmental damage. Some of the environmental damage caused by an oil spill can last for decades after the spill occurs. The Arabian Gulf oil spill is also known as the Gulf war oil spill. This spill was one of the most impacting oil spills known to date. The Gulf war oil spill resulted from the Gulf war in 1991.
“The 1991 Gulf War led to the largest oil spill in human history. Over 770 km of coastline from southern Kuwait to Abu Ali Island (Saudi Arabia) were smothered with oil and tar, erasing most of the local plant and animal communities. Salt marshes were most severely hit of the different coastal ecosystem types along the Saudi Arabian coast and are far from being completely restored several years later.” (Barth)
"The U.S accused the Iraqis of committing “environmental terrorism” by intentionally spilling several million barrels of oil. Administration sources also commented that an incendiary strike could be carried out against the spill, in an effort to burn oil before it reached key industrial facilities, including water purification plants, in the area. Iraqi officials blamed the U.S. for starting the spill via a recent bombing, however American officials denied the claim, as spilling oil didn't “do anything militarily.”
Paul Horsman, a Greenpeace activist, surveyed 240 miles of Persian Gulf shoreline before telling the Chicago Sun-Times that some parts were “beyond repair.”
“Over 200 lakes of oil formed throughout the desert due to the massive amounts of spillage, some more than 6 feet deep. By the end of 1991, the massive cloud of smoke that had formed during the fires was starting to dissipate, but many in the local population continued to complain of respiratory problems.
As of March 2011, cleanup is far form over. According to Arab news, the Saudi government set contracts worth 700 million Saudi Riyal (over $180 million) to rehabilitate the environments decimated by the Gulf War. The UN contributed $45 million.
"The marine ecosystem of the gulf is always at risk due to accidental and operational oil spills." (Kankara)
Oil spills have very negative and devastating affects on the environment, birds, marine mammals and fish. The oil sometimes clogs the blowholes of whales and dolphins, making it impossible for the animals to breathe properly and affecting their ability to communicate and also coats the fur of otters and seals. Even when marine mammals escape the immediate effects, an oil spill can cause damage by contaminating their food supply; Marine mammals that eat fish or other food that has been exposed to an oil spill may be poisoned by the oil and die or can experience other problems. The severity of environmental damages caused by a particular oil spill depends on many factors, including the amount of the oil spilled, the type and weight of the oil, the location of the spill, the species of wildlife in the area, the timing or breeding cycles and seasonal migrations, and even the weather at sea during and immediately after the oil spill.
Barth, H. (2007). Crab induced salt marsh regeneration after the 1991 Gulf War oil spill. Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management, 10(3), 327-334. doi:10.1080/14634980701512624
Kankara, R. S., & Subramanian, B. R. (2007). Oil Spill Sensitivity Analysis and Risk Assessment for Gulf of Kachchh, India, using Integrated Modeling. Journal Of Coastal Research, 23(5), 1251-1258.
Nicole Reeves